Undergarment with adjustable waist size and back support

ABSTRACT

An undergarment is made of two-way stretch power net material. The undergarment has an upper tubular portion which encircles the wearer&#39;&#39;s waist. The front of the undergarment extends higher than the rear. A pair of auxiliary two-way stretch belt panels reinforced by flexible strips extend around the back from lateral seams and are adjustably engaged by fasteners, to help take in the abdomen, creating a custom-fit waist size, to help support the lower back of the wearer, and to keep the undergarment from riding up or down.

United States Patent Panes [451 Nov. 7, 1972 [54] UNDERGARMENT WITH ADJUSTABLE WAIST SIZE AND BACK SUPPORT [72] Inventor: Jack Panes, Bayside, NY.

[73] Assignee: Magic Charm, Inc., New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: March 13, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 19,333

[52] U.S. Cl ..128/548 [5 1] Int. Cl ..A4lc l/00 [58] Field of Search ..128/518, 528, 525, 546-550,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,942,605 6/1960 Erteszek 128/547 3,314,433 4/1967 Champagne et al....l28/564 B 3,513,854 5/1970 Meyer ..128/528 3,255,756 6/1966 Frei ..128/548 1,578,042 3/1926 Kops ..128/551 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney-Polachek, Saulsbury & l-lough [57] ABSTRACT An undergarment is made of two-way stretch power net material. The undergarment has an upper tubular portion which encircles the wearer's waist. The front of the undergarment extends higher than the rear. A pair of auxiliary two-way stretch belt panels reinforced by flexible strips extend around the back from lateral seams and are adjustably engaged by fasteners, to help take in the abdomen, creating a custom-fit waist size, to help support the lower back of the wearer, and to keep the undergarment from riding up or down.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 7 3. 702.1 16

26 Hi4 56 I2 24 250 72a HHII JACK PANES @M/W TTURWE 5 UNDERG ARMENT WITH ADJUSTABLE WAIST SIZE AND BACK SUPPORT This invention relates to the art of undergarments and more particularly concerns an improved panty girdle or'girdle constructed to provide powerful, elastic figure control and support at both front and back.

Panty girdles heretofore have generally been constructed as tubular garments with integral tubular waist and leg .portions. The waist portion has generally been made of the same two-way stretch material as the leg portions. Undergarments, particularly girdles and panty girdles, are manufactured in limited sizes; such as only small, medium, large and extra large. Therefore, an individual must consider the dimensions of the thighs, hips and waist. Although undergarments have been made of two-way stretch material, with holding elasticity, the waist size'is last to be considered, since the undergarment must fit over the thighs and hips. Therefore, an individual with a smaller than a manufacturer considers as normal for waist having particular size thighs and hips is unable to obtain an undergarment which gives a proper fit of the waist or support of the back.

The present invention is directed at overcoming these difficulties by providing an improved undergarment;particularly a girdle or panty girdle, which has an adjustable waist portion to give a wearer a custom fit according to his or her figure, and proper back support. This improved custom-fit adjustable waist size and proper back support is provided by a pair of auxiliary adjustable two-way stretch back panels lightly boned in the vertical direction. These panels constitute a wide auxiliary belt located high at the back of the garment. This belt reinforces the back and exerts a constricting effect at the sides and front to help take in and hold in the abdomen for a custom fit, and to help support the lower back. This last feature of back support is particularly important since it is almost wholly lacking in conventional panty girdles. The auxiliary or supplementary back panels extend as high as the front of the panty girdle to provide proper support.

Other and further features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed-description, taken together with the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a panty girdle embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the girdle, shown in partially closed position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the girdle with supplementary back panels shown open.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5- 5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawing, there is shown the panty girdle 10 embodying the invention. The girdle has an upper tubular waist portion formed by the upper parts of two front panels 12 joined by a center seam 11, and a rear or back panel 14 joined to panels 12 by long lateral seams 16a, 16b. A crotch piece 18 preferably made of nylon tricot material is held by seams 17 to the front and rear panels, and by seams 19 to two small leg panels 20. The leg panels are secured by seams 17 to the front and rear panels. Longitudinally elastic bands 22 encircle the bottom ends of both tubular leg portions. The upper edge of rear panel 7 14 has a longitudinally elastic band 24 extending between the two lateral seams 16a, 16b. Band 24 is located below longitudinally elastic band 26 which extends completely across the upper edge of front panels 12 and continues beyond the lateral seams at upper edges of auxiliary panels 25a, 25b.

Panel 25a is trapezoidal in form and has an inner end secured to seam 16a and extending upwardly from a point below band 24. up to band 26 as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Panel 25b is similarly trapezoidal and has its inner end similarly attached to seam 16b. A pair of flexible plastic strips or bones 28 are disposed vertically between inner and outer vertical ends of the two panels 25a, 25b respectively to help hold these panels smoothly in place over the hips of the wearer. These strips are held in place by binding tapes'30 sewn in place; see FIG. 6. Secured to the lower inclined edges of both panels 25a, 25b are longitudinally elastic bands 32 which hold panels 25a, 25b smoothly over the hips of the wearer and control stretch of these panels.

At the outer or free narrower endof panel 25a is an inelastic band or tape 34 holding vertically spaced hooks 36. At the outer or free narrower end of panel 25b is an inelastic band 48 provided with vertically spaced horizontal rows of loops or eyes 50 whichcan be selectively engaged by the hooks 36 to adjust the waist size, thereby providing an individual custom fitting undergarment.

Panels l2, 14, 20, 25a and 25b are all made of twoway stretch power net fabric material. The crossed arrows A, B and C in FIGS. 14 indicate the direction of elastic yield of the fabric.

When the garment is drawn up around the torso T of a wearer of the garment, the leg portions will neatly and yieldably enclose the upper thighs of the wearer. Loops 52. and 54 may be provided at inner sides of panels 12 and 14 to engage garters (not shown). Reinforcement panels 56 and 58 made of two-way stretch moisture absorbent material may be applied inside of front panels 12 and held in place by stitching 60, 62.'The longitudinally elastic band 26 will overlay the abdomen of the wearer in a horizontal plane higher than the elastic band 24 at the rear as then the auxiliary panels 25a, 25b can be closed as shown in FIG. 2 to juxtapose the back of the wearer, thereby giving an adjustable waist size for a custom fit undergarment. The closed auxiliary panels exert powerful forces circumferentially and radially'as indicated by arrows D and E in FIGS. 1 and 2. These hold in the abdomen of the wearer and effectively support the lower back. In addition the back panel 14 is relieved of some tension by the overlapping lower portions of panels 25a, 25b This prevents early loss of elasticity of the back panel which condition heretofore has been a common failing of prior panty girdles.

The panty girdle fits smoothly over the hips and around the buttocks, legs and adjusts to the waist of the wearer as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A smooth surface is externally presented from points well below the crotch to a line high on the waist. This is particularly advantageous when worn with tight fitting outer garments such as skirts, dresses, slacks, etc.

The panty girdle cannot ride up due to the snug engagement at the thighs and around the waist, nor can it slide or ride downwardly for the same reasons. However, the girdle can easily be removed by disengagement of the hooks 36 and eyes 50 to release panels 25a, 25b, and by rolling the garment downwardly.

The elastic panels of the garment are preferably made of nylon net material which can be washed quickly and easily and which dries quickly.

What is claimedis: 1

1. A panty girdle, comprising lower tubular leg portions and an upper tubular waist portion, said leg and waist portions being formed by two front and one back panel joined together by vertical lateral seams and a central seam; horizontal, longitudinally elastic bands at bothupper and lower edges of the front and back panels, the elastic band at the upper edge of the back panel being spaced vertically below the elastic band at the upper. edge of the front panels, said lower-edges elastic bands encircling bottom ends of said tubular leg portions; and a further pair of mutually engageable auxiliary panels joined to said lateral seams respectively and arranged to extend around said waist portion and to overlay an upper portion of the back panel to oppose an upper portion of the front panels for holding in the abdomen of the wearer whereby an adjustable waist portion provides a user a custom fit according to his or her figure and a proper back support.

2. A panty girdleas defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary panels are generally trapezoidal in form for snugly overlaying the hips of the wearer and smoothly juxtaposing the lower back of the wearer.

3. A panty girdle as defined in claim 1, further comprising mutually adjustable fastener members at free end portions of the auxiliary panels exert radial and circumferential forces both inwardly directed for constricting the waist.

4. A panty girdle as defined in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary panels are generally trapezoidal in form for snugly overlaying the hips of the wearer and smoothly juxtaposing thelower back of the wearer.

5. A panty girdle as defined in claim 4, wherein said auxiliary panels are made of two-way stretch material, said elastic band at the upper edge of the front panels extending horizontally along upper'edges of both auxiliary panels.

6. A panty girdle as defined in claim 5, further comprising elastic fabric pieces sewn inside the front panels to reinforce the same.

7. A panty girdle as defined in claim 6, further comprising loops sewn inside the front and rear panels in said leg portions for supporting garters.

8. A panty girdle as defined in claim 7, further comprising a crotch piece of fabric material inserted between the front and back panels at the leg portions.

9. A panty girdle as defined in claim 3, wherein said fastener members are vertically spaced hooks on one of the auxiliary panels and vertically spaced horizontal rows of eyes on the other one of the auxiliary panels.

10. A panty girdle as defined in claim 5, further comprising other longitudinally elastic bands at lower edges of the auxiliary panels for controlling longitudinal stretch thereof; and vertically disposed flexible strips secured across the auxiliary panels midway between inner and outer vertical edges thereof for holding the auxiliary panels smoothly on the hips of the wearer. 

1. A panty girdle, comprising lower tubular leg portions and an upper tubular waist portion, said leg and waist portions being formed by two front and one back panel joined together by vertical lateral seams and a central seam; horizontal, longitudinally elastic bands at both upper and lower edges of the front and back panels, the elastic band at the upper edge of the back panel being spaced vertically below the elastic band at the upper edge of the front panels, said lower-edges elastic bands encircling bottom ends of said tubular leg portions; and a further pair of mutually engageable auxiliary panels joined to said lateral seams respectively and arranged to extend around said waist portion and to overlay an upper portion of the back panel to oppose an upper portion of the front panels for holding in the abdomen of the wearer whereby an adjustable waist portion provides a user a custom fit according to his or her figure and a proper back support.
 2. A panty girdle as defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary panels are generally trapezoidal in form for snugly overlaying the hips of the wearer and smoothly juxtaposing the lower back of the wearer.
 3. A panty girdle as defined in claim 1, further comprising mutually adjustable fastener members at free end portions of the auxiliary panels exert radial and circumferential forces both inwardly directed for constricting the waist.
 4. A panty girdle as defined in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary panels are generally trapezoidal in form for snugly overlaying the hips of the wearer and smoothly juxtaposing the lower back of the wearer.
 5. A panty girdle as defined in claim 4, wherein said auxiliary panels are made of two-way stretch material, said elastic band at the upper edge of the front panels extending horizontally along upper edges of both auxiliary panels.
 6. A panty girdle as defined in claim 5, further comprising elastic fabric pieces sewn inside the front panels to reinforce the same.
 7. A panty girdle as defined in claim 6, further comprising loops sewn inside the front and rear panels in said leg portions for supporting garters.
 8. A panty girdle as defined in claim 7, further comprising a crotch piece of fabric material inserted between the front and back panels at the leg portions.
 9. A panty girdle as defined in claim 3, wherein said fastener members are vertically spaced hooks on one of the auxiliary panels and vertically spaced horizontal rows of eyes on the other one of the auxiliary panels.
 10. A panty girdle as defined in claim 5, further comprising other longitudinally elastic bands at lower edges of the auxiliary panels for controlling longitudinal stretch thereof; and vertically disposed flexible strips secured across the auxiliary panels midway between inner and outer vertical edges thereof for holding the auxiliary panels smoothly on the hips of the wearer. 